Spring Break
Instructor builds new symphonic band
Colin Kutch
Daily Staff Writer
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Diana Hollinger, the coordinator of music education at San Jose State University, is in her first year at SJSU. She is the band's conductor.
"I thought we'd have eight people show up," she said. "We had no budget, so the students set it up themselves."
The course didn't appear in the SJSU course catalog because it wasn't confirmed in time, Hollinger said, but 45 students and teachers signed up when school was back in session. Hollinger said she had to find band members by convincing them one at a time to come out.
The symphonic band held its fifth practice on Tuesday. Hollinger said that the experience of the band members varies by person and includes beginning as well as advanced musicians.
Instruments used include a variety of woodwinds, such as the flute, and an assortment of brass instruments, such as the trumpet. There is also a percussion section complete with cymbals and a bass drum.
Art Diaz, a professor of chemical engineering who also plays bass clarinet, said that it's not a required course for the majority of the band members and most students are there for fun.
"You should note that everyone here is interested, not because it's required curriculum," he said. "It's the strongest part of the course."
As the woodwinds and the horns came together in Tuesday's practice, the dynamics of the music made for soft melodies followed by loud crescendos.
The eyes of the musicians were intent on their pages. The cymbal crashed, creating a loud climax while Hollinger shouted to the band members to focus on their volume control.
"Take control," she said, "Don't ever sit on a note. Let it grow."
Jon Apel, a junior music education major, said he never played percussion before but he welcomed the chance to try new things.
"You can do something that you haven't done before and not get laughed at for it," he said.
Keith Johnson, a sophomore music major, plays the trumpet. He said the course is unique because it helps prepare students looking to become music teachers while remaining a fun elective.
"The best thing is just getting a chance to play," he said.
The symphonic band is gearing up for its end-of-year concert, where the band plans to perform Frank Ticheli's "An American Elegy."
Hollinger said Ticheli, a well-known composer, wrote the piece to remember the victims and survivors of the shooting at Columbine High School. It was first performed in 2000.
According to Ticheli's performance notes, "An American Elegy" was commissioned through a special project sponsored by the Alpha Iota chapter of Kappa Kappa Psi. The chapter is the University of Colorado's honorary service association that funds their marching band through projects such as fund-raisers and social events.
The concert is scheduled for May 14 at 7:30 p.m. in the Music building Concert Hall.
